Audubon wants DEP to block sale of public lands near Dunnellon

Published: Saturday, September 14, 2013 at 6:39 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, September 14, 2013 at 6:39 p.m.

One of Florida's leading environmental groups is calling on state environmental regulators to spare two publicly owned properties near Dunnellon from the auction block.

Audubon Florida recently submitted a letter to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection objecting to the proposed sale of a 124-acre tract at the western tip of the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway and a 2-acre piece at the north end of the Rainbow Springs State Park.

Both sites are among nearly 4,000 acres of state lands that were initially set aside for conservation, but have now been declared surplus and are up for sale.

The DEP hopes the proceeds from the sales will help raise $50 million to buy other lands that deemed more valuable for environmental purposes.

Audubon's letter to Susan Grandin, director of the DEP's Division of State Lands, objects to the planned sale of 30 parcels around the state.

In Marion County, the state's larger tract hosts mature forest and fronts the Rainbow River along 320 feet, according to Audubon's letter.

Charles Lee, Audubon's director of advocacy, wrote that previous discussions of the site had focused on transferring it to the city of Dunnellon to become a city park.

Lee said the property could serve as a public "take-out" for Rainbow River tubers.

Lee also noted that the property was part of the Rainbow River Corridor Florida Forever Project, a conservation effort championed by Dunnellon-based Rainbow River Conservation Inc. that dates to 2006.

"Audubon Florida objects to the surplus and sale of this land to private parties. Private development of this parcel could be detrimental to the Rainbow River," Lee wrote.

Audubon, he added, recommends that the site be kept as part of the Greenway, or that talks continue about making it a Dunnellon city park.

In its letter, Audubon said the parcel within the state park is also part of the Rainbow River Corridor Florida Forever Project.

The site features a mature oak forest emerging from an abandoned railroad bed. The piece juts out from the park's main body and cuts through other environmental lands that the state has already prioritized for acquisition this year, Audubon observed.

"Retention of this piece of land is vital to the viability of the Rainbow River Corridor parcel," Lee wrote. "Considering this parcel surplus would be premature while the surrounding lands remain on the Florida Forever Acquisition List."

Lee added in his letter that the Florida Constitution sets a very high bar for selling conservation lands.

Given that, Audubon believes that the notion that land is "no longer needed for conservation" requires the support of evidence that can "conclusively demonstrate an absence of ecological or environmental value," Lee wrote.

The two Marion properties, like the others named by Audubon, "fall considerably short of meeting the Constitutional test," Lee argued.

Lee pointed out that Audubon either does not object to the sale of properties that it declined to identify, or has not gathered enough information to make a judgment about them.

Within Marion County, the DEP has also listed about 40 acres of the Indian Lake State Forest, which is a 4,462-acre property located two miles north of Silver Springs, and an additional 11 parcels covering 110 acres that are spread throughout the Greenway.

In creating the program, state lawmakers mandated that the first priority of the sales proceeds go to purchase land to stop encroachment on military bases.

After that would come acquisitions to protect springs and other water resources.

The process, according to DEP officials, will give state agencies, universities and colleges the first shot at leasing the tracts.

If those agencies decline, the lands would then be offered to local governments, which can purchase them at appraised value.

After that, they are put up for public bidding, with the governor and Cabinet approving the final sale.

DEP intends to hold regional public hearings beginning in October to further discuss the sales.

<p>One of Florida's leading environmental groups is calling on state environmental regulators to spare two publicly owned properties near Dunnellon from the auction block.</p><p>Audubon Florida recently submitted a letter to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection objecting to the proposed sale of a 124-acre tract at the western tip of the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway and a 2-acre piece at the north end of the Rainbow Springs State Park.</p><p>Both sites are among nearly 4,000 acres of state lands that were initially set aside for conservation, but have now been declared surplus and are up for sale.</p><p>The DEP hopes the proceeds from the sales will help raise $50 million to buy other lands that deemed more valuable for environmental purposes.</p><p>Audubon's letter to Susan Grandin, director of the DEP's Division of State Lands, objects to the planned sale of 30 parcels around the state.</p><p>In Marion County, the state's larger tract hosts mature forest and fronts the Rainbow River along 320 feet, according to Audubon's letter.</p><p>Charles Lee, Audubon's director of advocacy, wrote that previous discussions of the site had focused on transferring it to the city of Dunnellon to become a city park.</p><p>Lee said the property could serve as a public "take-out" for Rainbow River tubers.</p><p>Lee also noted that the property was part of the Rainbow River Corridor Florida Forever Project, a conservation effort championed by Dunnellon-based Rainbow River Conservation Inc. that dates to 2006.</p><p>"Audubon Florida objects to the surplus and sale of this land to private parties. Private development of this parcel could be detrimental to the Rainbow River," Lee wrote.</p><p>Audubon, he added, recommends that the site be kept as part of the Greenway, or that talks continue about making it a Dunnellon city park.</p><p>In its letter, Audubon said the parcel within the state park is also part of the Rainbow River Corridor Florida Forever Project.</p><p>The site features a mature oak forest emerging from an abandoned railroad bed. The piece juts out from the park's main body and cuts through other environmental lands that the state has already prioritized for acquisition this year, Audubon observed.</p><p>"Retention of this piece of land is vital to the viability of the Rainbow River Corridor parcel," Lee wrote. "Considering this parcel surplus would be premature while the surrounding lands remain on the Florida Forever Acquisition List."</p><p>Lee added in his letter that the Florida Constitution sets a very high bar for selling conservation lands.</p><p>Given that, Audubon believes that the notion that land is "no longer needed for conservation" requires the support of evidence that can "conclusively demonstrate an absence of ecological or environmental value," Lee wrote.</p><p>The two Marion properties, like the others named by Audubon, "fall considerably short of meeting the Constitutional test," Lee argued.</p><p>Lee pointed out that Audubon either does not object to the sale of properties that it declined to identify, or has not gathered enough information to make a judgment about them.</p><p>Within Marion County, the DEP has also listed about 40 acres of the Indian Lake State Forest, which is a 4,462-acre property located two miles north of Silver Springs, and an additional 11 parcels covering 110 acres that are spread throughout the Greenway.</p><p>In creating the program, state lawmakers mandated that the first priority of the sales proceeds go to purchase land to stop encroachment on military bases.</p><p>After that would come acquisitions to protect springs and other water resources.</p><p>The process, according to DEP officials, will give state agencies, universities and colleges the first shot at leasing the tracts.</p><p>If those agencies decline, the lands would then be offered to local governments, which can purchase them at appraised value.</p><p>After that, they are put up for public bidding, with the governor and Cabinet approving the final sale.</p><p>DEP intends to hold regional public hearings beginning in October to further discuss the sales.</p><p><i>Contact Bill Thompson at 867-4117 or at bill.thompson@ocala.com.</i></p>